Abstract
ABSTRACT Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and a major cause of death from cancer. One of the important indicators to compare the prevalence and incidence of the disease is a change in the trend. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the incidence, risk factors and possible causative agents of lung cancer (small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer) in adult patient who were hospitalized in medical wards of Tripoli University Hospital at Oncology department. Hospital based records for admitted cases specifically to medical ward, which developed small or non-small cell lung cancer (as defined International Agency for Research on Cancer - World Health Organization). Out of 248 patients admitted over year’s period from 2011 to 2020 whereas 195 patients (79%) were male, 53 patients (21%) were female, and the remaining two patients were missed, the mean age was 64 years (S.D. =8.5, range 20-87). Based on pathology records 35 (14%) patients were diagnosed as having small cell lung cancer, 203 (82%) non-small cell cancer, and the remaining 10 (4%) were clinically diagnosed lung cancer patients. In conclusion, the incidence of small cell lung cancer was significantly lower than non-small cell lung cancer.